Overwintering perennials

I bought plug plants earlier in the year of Chrysanthemums, Snapdragon, Gerbera Osteospermum and Dahlia. I have lifted the Dahlias and put the tubers in the greenhouse to dry out. Not quite sure what to do with the other plants. I think I should cut back the snapdragons to a few inches above the ground but not sure. Any help would be appreciated. ( The gerbera never flowered and in fact hardly grew at all although they are still living. )

Snapdragons are perennials usually treated as annuals. You can get two years out of good plants by leaving them over winter (or cutting down by 1/3 if very tall) and cutting back to green growth in spring. The second year's plants can be as good as the first.

Osteospermums may survive in warm areas - trim lightly to tidy up and wait and see what happens in spring.

Gerberas - unless they are the new "hardy" variety will die over winter. Hardy ones may survive in a warm area.

Osteospermums survive well outside for me.....usually. I take cuttings, it isn't too late now, and keep in unheated greenhouse. Gerberas too survive outside but I dig them up and overwinter on dry side in greenhouse. I had to try different spots in garden before I got gerberas to flower well. They need plenty of sunshine. Mrs M, I would keep ALL your plants, including snapdragons, inside. Fleeceing is always sensible and if plants are kept reasonably dry should survive. Try it and let us know next spring.

Am in NWest & agree with Alina. Keep their 'tops' on over the winter & then trim back to signs of new growth in Spring. The plants do get rather tatty by the end of the 2cnd year, so either collect their seed or be prepared to start again.